Figure 2.

Effect of tocilizumab on citrullination in synovial biopsy samples obtained from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis prior to and 8 weeks after initiation of tocilizumab, as assessed by expression of citrullinated peptides (1325:hIgG C03 and 1325:B09) and PAD-2 and PAD-4 enzymes. Immunohistologic findings in representative synovial tissue samples are shown. Results of semiquantitative evaluations were obtained in 15 paired samples (obtained at baseline and week 8). Values are shown as median (IQR) in the table for all patients and stratified according to clinical response (Clinical Disease Activity Index remission/low disease activity vs Clinical Disease Activity Index moderate/high disease activity at week 8). The changes in median score from baseline to week 8 were compared by Wilcoxon’s matched pairs signed-rank test. PAD, protein arginine deiminase.